Willmott Dixon has been appointed by Darlington Borough Council to deliver its £35m Railway Heritage Quarter Museum
As part of the scheme, Willmott Dixon will design and build a new Railway Heritage Quarter Museum and refurbish Grade II listed buildings.
It will transform the Head of Steam railway museum site off North Road – which includes the Goods Shed and Carriage works – into a tourist attraction.
The Railway Heritage Quarter Museum will feature an immersive experience building
The work includes a live engineering shed and an immersive experience building – featuring holograms of trains as well as static displays – a café & shop, new public realm, parking provision and a railway themed children’s play area.
The project has been procured via the SCAPE framework and is being supported by £20m of funding from the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority.
Work is due to be completed in 2024.
‘Re-launch Darlington as the birthplace of the railways’
Councillor Jonathan Dulston, leader of Darlington Borough Council said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to re-launch Darlington as the birthplace of the railways, the town that financially supported the initial idea of the passenger railway.
“It has taken a great deal of time, passion, energy and ingenuity to reach this stage of the project and it is with a great deal of pride that we set the Railway Heritage Quarter on track for completion in time for the bi-centenary celebrations of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 2025.”
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “It is fantastic to hear that we’ve got spades in the ground and can officially launch the start of building works on the Darlington Railway Heritage Quarter.
“This top-quality scheme will include attractions never seen before in our region. It’s yet another project we’re kick-starting in 2022, our year of construction.
“This is a bit different to the other schemes we’re driving forward this year, from transforming transport to redeveloping Teesworks. It’s no less important, though, and that’s why we committed £20million to make it a reality.”
“This ambitious attraction will tell the story of how we helped shape the world through our rail heritage and innovation for generations to come, supporting the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.
“What’s more, it’ll do so while boosting tourism to support our brilliant local businesses, putting more money in people’s pockets.”
Anthony Dillon, managing director of Willmott Dixon’s Northern operations said: “We are delighted to be once again working in partnership with Darlington Borough Council on an exciting tourist attraction that showcases Darlington’s proud railway heritage, which transformed the local area nearly 100 years ago.
“Working with our specialist local supply chain partners, we look forward to supporting local businesses and generating prosperity within the Tees Valley.”
Preserving local heritage
Mark Robinson, group chief executive at SCAPE, said: “The Railway Heritage Quarter development will transform the local area and celebrate the rich heritage of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. Preserving local heritage like this is fundamental to supporting growth across the UK.
“Combining the vast experience that Willmott Dixon holds in delivering important schemes of this nature, with the speed and socioeconomic benefits of using a SCAPE framework, we’re proud to help Darlington Borough Council accelerate this project, confident that they have a fantastic team in place to deliver an important asset for visitors and the local community to enjoy for years to come.”
